Oregon made history recently when newly appointed Gov. Kate Brown signed legislation into law that makes voter registration automatic for Oregonians using driver’s license records. House Bill 2177 moved quickly through Oregon’s Democratically controlled Legislature — although similar legislation had failed in 2013. It was championed by then-Secretary of State Kate Brown as well as the Oregon Association of County Clerks (OACC). And on March 16, Brown got to sign her legislation into law. Now comes the hard part — implementing the new law.
The secretary of state’s office is forming a committee that will include at least two county clerks to discuss implementation and is in the process of hiring a project manager.
In the initial wave of implementation, the state will go back two years through driver’s license records and provisionally register those who aren’t already signed up to vote.
Those residents will receive post cards that will give them the opportunity to move forward with the voter registration and choose a political party, or to opt-out of registration altogether.
The secretary of state’s office will undertake most of the initial work, but the counties will be involved as well.
Full Article: electionlineWeekly.